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Questions tagged [linear-algebra]

For questions related to linear mappings, matrices, basis, determinants, eigenvalues and other topics commonly done in a linear algebra course.

4 votes
4 answers
1k views

Questions about writing a Linear Algebra textbook, with Earth Science applications

I am writing a Linear Algebra textbook that is supposed to have several Earth Science applications (Geophysics, Atmospheric Science) given that I come from an Earth/Atmospheric Science background. I ...
Benjamin_Gal's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
334 views

Producing defective matrix examples

It's easy to come up with examples of interesting diagonalizable matrices $A\in M_n(\mathbb{C})$ with a prescribed set of eigenvalues $\lambda_1,\dots,\lambda_n$ because you can start with your ...
Jeremy Brazas's user avatar
14 votes
7 answers
8k views

What Basic Math Skills Should Be Expected of Students in a University-Level Linear Algebra Course?

I am currently teaching a university-level linear algebra course and recently encountered an issue that made me question the assumed foundational math skills for students in this course. The issue ...
LeafGlowPath's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
452 views

Regarding finding eigenvalues and minimal polynomial of an operator with limited tools while following Sheldon Axler

I am using the textbook Linear Algebra done right by Sheldon Axler (fourth edition) to teach an undergraduate linear algebra course. Please find here a link to the book here. Now Axler does not ...
user534666's user avatar
-4 votes
1 answer
108 views

Condense a logistic function around its midpoint [closed]

I have a function $$ f(x) = {1 \over 1 + e^{-k(x-0.5)}} $$ that plots a logistic curve that is symmetric around the point $0.5 / 0.5$. $k$ defines the steepness of the curve. I would now like to add ...
Fred's user avatar
  • 95
0 votes
1 answer
256 views

Help finding a YouTube channel for Linear Algebra

I remember watching a youtube playlist on a video about equation of a plane and about vectors in 3D. The video was fully animated in 3D and had good sound effects too. I feel like it had a clock ...
Broy Tennison's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
205 views

Game project using linear algebra

Throughout this year, I have been in charge of a linear algebra course aimed at engineering school. In this course, I asked my students to work on a final project involving finding a winning strategy ...
Gabriel's user avatar
  • 61
25 votes
14 answers
17k views

What can I do when advanced undergraduate and/or early graduate STEM students cannot perform correct math manipulations?

I have helped to TA and taught several courses with mixtures of advanced undergraduate and early graduate students in engineering/STEM. These courses are the classics: signal processing, control, ...
Fraïssé's user avatar
  • 749
4 votes
3 answers
285 views

Looking for web app resources for symbolic Gaussian elimination

I am looking for a web app software that takes step-by-step directions from a student to perform the linear combination operation on a matrix with symbolic coefficients (as opposed to just numbers). ...
Maesumi's user avatar
  • 1,410
0 votes
2 answers
76 views

How to intuitively connect Linear Equation in two variables and the graph of them? [closed]

I struggle with connecting graphs of linear equation with algebraic form like $x+y=p$. How do I develop the intuition that it represents a line that is sloping down and passes through value $p$ on $y$-...
Ashish Shukla's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
491 views

What is the dimension of $\mathbb{R}$ over $\mathbb{Q}$?

Long time ago a student asked me what the dimension of $\mathbb{R}$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ is, and I said $$\dim_{\mathbb{Q}}\mathbb{R}=\mathfrak{c}$$ where $\mathfrak{c}$ is the cardinality of the ...
Peter Melech's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
386 views

Programming and computation-focused textbook for introductory linear algebra

tl;dr I am looking for references which cover introductory abstract Linear Algebra but with a programming / computational approach. The only one I found is the Jupyter guide to Linear Algebra Long ...
Luiz Cordeiro's user avatar
19 votes
4 answers
4k views

Why do we teach linear algebra in precalculus classes?

When I took precalculus, we learned about polynomials and how to factor them, we learned about trigonometry and lots of great and useful identities there, and we learned about matrices. They didn't ...
Joel Croteau's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
188 views

Rediscovering euqation of line [closed]

I am studying (self learner) linear equations/equation of line and my idea is to discover the equations myself rather than try and understand ready-made equations available in text books. I am using X-...
Ashish Shukla's user avatar
10 votes
5 answers
2k views

Lowercase vs. uppercase letters for matrix entries

For a matrix $A$ in, say for instance, $\mathbb{R}^{m \times n}$, there are at least two different conventions to denote its entry at position $(j,k)$: Denote the entry as $a_{jk}$. Denote the entry ...
Jochen Glueck's user avatar

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